School with 11 levy defeats hopes for better luck with renewal

NEW CARLISLE, Ohio (WDTN) – With a string of 11 levy defeats, one district hopes its renewal efforts will be better received by voters.

“We’re hoping the public shows the support they have in the past and renew these levies but by no means are we 100 percent confident these levies are going to pass,” says Tecumseh Superintendent Brad Martin.

Tecumseh is asking voters to approve two renewal levies. One is for 4.67 mills and the other for 2.81 mills.

The district has seen levy requests for new money defeated at the ballot box 11 straight times.

The district says last year alone it cut one million dollars which allowed it to avoid having the state take over despite the most recent levy failure in November for new money, but opponents still question how much teachers and administrators are paid.

“As far as salaries go we’re near the bottom of Clark County,” Martin says. “I don’t think our salaries are out of whack.”

The two renewal levies bring in $2.1 million for the school.

The district says one has been around since 1987, the other 1995, the last time voters approved new money for the district.

“We promise you we are going to be frugal with the money,” Martin says. “We’re trying hard, we’ve made reductions.”

Martin says they’re focused on passing the renewal levies and talks about going for new money a twelfth time won’t happen until they see the results of what happens in May.